The Texas Freedom Network — a liberal government watchdog group promotes religious freedom — has asked the IRS to investigate the role a nonprofit played in supporting efforts to politically mobilize members of conservative Christian churches in Texas. In their press release, the Texas Freedom Network urges the IRS to examine the financial support the Niemoller Foundation — a 501(c)(3) organization — provided to the Texas Restoration Project. According to the Texas Freedom Network, the Texas Restoration Project "hosted thousands of pastors and their spouses at six "Pastors' Policy Briefings" in 2005, at a time when Republicans Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and state Comptroller Carole Strayhorn were considering seeking their party's nomination for governor. They sponsored a seventh event to celebrate Gov. Perry's inauguration in 2007. Gov. Perry spoke at all seven "briefings." No other candidates or potential candidates for governor in 2006 received invitations to speak." Charities and religious organizations, including churches, are among tax-exempt organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. They are prohibited from participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. According to an IRS spokeswoman cited in an article by the Star-Telegram newspaper, "The IRS can neither confirm nor deny investigations in progress, completed in the past nor contemplated. The disclosure laws protect a taxpayer's or a tax-exempt organization's right to a confidential relationship with the IRS." Read more in the Star-Telegram's January 11th story